I just joined Drugs.com. How do I get established? make friends?

I need to find out information on depression and menopause, how do I go about doing this? The older I get, the more I lose my zest for life. I take 2 150mg. effexor-XR a day. I am on 3 types of inhalers, COPD, I take 80mg of adderall daily. I found out resently, I have hypo-thyroidism. I just got that under control. I take 1 blood pressure pill each day and 4mg. of suboxone 2 times a day, yeah- in recovery. I have been clean and sober now for 2 years and 4 month. I am 58 years old, married with one 20 yr. old daughter, do GREAT at Grand Valley State University, my husband just retired so we get to spend every single daugh-gone long, day together, day after, day after, day after day. I went through menopause at 50years of age and I feel closer and closer to death each day. My life is not bad, infact, considering, I have it pretty good. So why can't I shake these blues and get on with the show?

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Anonymous8 Apr 2012

Hello ttoottsey. Welcome to the site. My name is pledge. Whatever groups you joined, the members of that group have an e-mail option that will notify them when a new member joins that particular group. I was scrolling through medical questions and came across yours. Whatever group(s) you have joined, the questions on the main board will be showing them. So, in regards to "depression" any questions involving depression will show. Much as say anxiety. Any questions regarding the subject "anxiety" will show on the main board and only because you joined the anxiety support group. Its Easter Sunday and traffic will be slow, as to the various celebrations, ceromonies, church. We come from around the world, so theres time zones that has to be considered as are those zones from North America Regards, pledge

Dear ttoottsey, I almost had to laugh a litlle when I read your post. It was a little funny how you wrote it. The day after day after day part. It's good to laugh, when it's appropriate. First of all congratulations on your sobriety. That is no easy job in itself. I know. I have been sober for 5 going on 6 years now myself. But whatever you do... don't ever lose your zest for life hon. My grandmother always taught me that. Pledge gave you some excellent advice, as usual, he's pretty good about that. I just wanted to welcome you aboard too, and tell you if you stay with us you will start to get to know people and can friend them by clicking on their avatar, which is their picture. Like mine is the little lamb. When you click on their picture..you will see where it says add friend. You just click on add friend, and it adds them to your friends list. They can add you back too, to their friends list. You will get the hang of it. But we are glad to have you and take care. Best wishes. Ruth

dear TTootsey, There is a symptoms of clinical depression called Anhedonia, it means that you find no pleasure in anything. Does this sound accurate for you? I got that just after I started suboxone and my counselor caught it, I was sent to the subs dr, he added 10 mgs of NON extended release fluoxetine and continued group therapy. I see you are already on Effexor, and also have hypothyroidism and it looks like your daughter is no longer living at home, and you have been thru menopause. Have you tried talk therapy with a counselor? The hypothyroidism and menopause may be adding to your misery, and this is just an opinion from me, but if your daughter is no longer living with you, you may have empty nest syndrome. The opposite of grief is hope, I learned that in another group I attended for grief and loss. If you can find something to hope for, it might help some.

Hi-join as many groups as you can. I belong to pain, doctors, hypo-thyroid, side-effects, etc. I'm waiting for one for blowing up the FDA. I think it is one of the most inept and corrupt agencies in the US. Then you ask people 2 B a friend.We just ask a question-post it-use as many key words as possible- I belong to 42 support groups-I have 2 spleens, am allergic to aspirin and Tylenol, so of course I belong to 42 groups. Also repond to anything that looks interesting. I'm not sure if they have a retired husband group- but that condition surely broke up my marriage. The more he looked at me, the more he saw wrong.

I joined a couple of months back and have found both the information and the people on this site informative and very supportive and encouraging. How to make friends? I have no idea? One person befriended me so far and I was really touched. I am a bit cautious I guess as sometimes people on other sites (perhaps not here) are suspicious of new joiners befriending others. I too have quite a few years sober time, one day at a time. Have depression, anxiety, OCD, am peri menopausal and have an assorted candy coloured box of MI issues. I found CBT very helpful, practice positive thinking, postive actions, affirmations and meditation and a very spiritual way of life (please not not religion). I have bad days, an imperfect life but am developing an inner strength that I never had before. I love the word HOPE and that is what gets me out of bed on the really bad days. I have four children aged 10 to 19 and unfortunately my husband's early retirement sounded the death gong on our marriage but we have remained friends and even spend family holidays together. Its a really tough phase in your life right now so first of all be kind to yourself. In sisterhood, Aud

Welcome to the site! Maybe you need a hobby to do or get together with some girl friends to make you feel better. I know what you mean to be with your husband all day long. Mine is retired and I'm also home. We go for walks with our dog and go for coffee in the afternoon. He had to get a part time job driving school vans for schools. That gives us something to talk about. I found someone who wanted to get together for girls night out. I found her on Kijiji (Canada) so every two weeks we go to her or my place. We were supposed to do crafts but we just chat and eat yummy things. I find that I have to make an effort to go and do something or I'm lazy and get bored. I also have had depression in the past so if you have any questions, I'm here. I also had hypothyroid but just recently had thyroid cancer and had it removed. But now of course I need my Synthroid more than ever.

Hi, Not much I can add to the group of answers, join as many groups as possible that interest you. You will make many friends and have favorites. I really enjoy some of the friends I have made in particular. be thick skinned because sometimes someone will hurt your feelings not meaning to they all mean well and everyone on here is trying to help one another. I refrain from answering questions or giving any advice that I know little about, it is best that way. Good health to you and welcome

Welcome!! we are here for you!! There are older (not that we ARE older) women here your age, and if you keep PQ'ing and friending people you find interesting, you can go as far as you want friendship wise. I have friends that I meet for lunch, and friends too far away but we talk on the phone almost everyday. Some email. It all depends on how active you want to take a part. WE are nonjudgmental tease each other all the time, and I feel like these people are some of my best friends,because they understand!! My family doesn't understand, but this community does. Hope the you find what you need here!!